European Patent Office

T 0716/06 of 17.06.2008

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:2008:T071606.20080617
Date of decision
17 June 2008
Case number
T 0716/06
Petition for review of
-
Application number
01830178.8
IPC class
F04D 19/04
Language of proceedings
English
Distribution
Distributed to board chairmen and members (B)
OJ versions
No OJ links found
Other decisions for this case
-
Abstracts for this decision
-
Application title
Turbine pump with a stator stage integrated with a spacer ring
Applicant name
VARIAN S.p.A.
Opponent name
Pfeiffer Vacuum GmbH
Board
3.2.04
Headnote
-
Keywords
Alleged public prior use
Witness offered but not summoned - substantial procedural violation
Remittal (yes)
Catchword
If a request is made by an opponent to hear a witness on an alleged public prior use and on the disclosure of a certain feature by this prior use, the competent department of the EPO must as a rule grant this request before deciding that the alleged public prior use is neither established nor a novelty destroying state of the art because the feature in question is not found to be disclosed therein.

ORDER

For these reasons it is decided that:

1. The decision under appeal is set aside.

2. The case is remitted to the department of first instance for further prosecution.

3. Reimbursement of the appeal fee is ordered.